Message from our Publisher

Published May 5, 2013 - 12:05am

Dear Readers:

It is a time of great change for our industry and that certainly is the case here at West Hawaii Today. The business model that has supported local community newspapers for generations is changing across the nation and here in West Hawaii.

I always make it a point to seek out reader input on how we are doing and when big changes are made at your local newspaper prompting questions raised by our readers, I want to address them.

For the past couple years, we have worked on becoming a more efficient operation in an effort to maintain a healthy business. Like other local businesses, we too have had to reduce expenses as revenue has declined with the poor national economy of the past few years. This latest management restructuring is consistent with operational changes made in the business office, advertising and production departments as duties have been consolidated.

These decisions are always difficult as we know only too well the impact on individuals involved and their families. The most recent change in the management of our newsroom is one more intended to allow us to provide the local coverage you expect and yet operate in the most efficient manner possible and is not a reflection on any individual.

I hope you have noticed the focus on local content that we have been working on improving over the past couple of years. Providing excellent local content is our core mission and without your support and subscriptions, we will fail.

I am committed to this mission and passionate about the responsibility to be the voice of our West Hawaii community. I agree with the sentiment that so many of you have expressed that we need to remain the independent West Hawaii newspaper. I have no intention of changing that. It would be detrimental to our business and our community.

The coverage of local people, events and happenings that we bring to you every day are the result of an excellent team of individuals who live and work in our community. They are dedicated to shining a light on the issues that are important to you. It is our intention to not just maintain the current quantity and quality of local content, but deliver even more.

Our mission is to provide the most complete local reporting possible for West Hawaii. I hope that you continue to make West Hawaii Today your newspaper and hold us to that.